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(No'Model.) sheets-sheen 1.Y

A. MGMICHAEL 8v F. B. WILDMAN.

l CIRCULAR KNITTING' MACHINE PatentadNov. 21; 1893-.

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I K .HHHIIIIUHHHIII'HHI IIHHHHHWH/ A Wye/'vrom WITNESSES: 25M# (Nomodel.) n y I svsnets-sneet-z. A. MOMICHAEL F.. B. WILDMAN.

vGIRGUMRKNITTING MACHINE. A No. 508,965. Patented Nov. a1-1893.

' FIG'T.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. MOM'ICHAEL 85 F. B. W'ILDIMLN.`

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE ,965. Pa-teted Nov. 21, 1893.

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' line .frx of Fig. l.

*UNITED STATES" PATFNT OFFICE.

PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,965; dated November 21,' 1.893.

' Application and May 4.1893. serial No. 472,931. (No model.)

.T all whom) it mlrtycoccern:

, Be it known that we, ABNER MoMIoHAEL and FRANK B. WILDMAN, ofthe city of Norristown, Montgomery county,-State of Pennsylvaniayhave invented an Improvement in Circular-Knitting Machines,` of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relatesrto circular knitting machines, and consists of certain improvements which are fullyset forth inthe following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings.

More particularly our invention relates to automatic knitting machines, in Which the needles are controlled by movable needle directing .cams which are automatically actuated by a pattern chain. v

Our improvements relate particularly to the devicesfor automatically operating the needle directing cams ofv the horizontal needle dial, for the purpose of drawing the needles in or moving them farther out, in the mannerv Well known in the art of knitting.

Our invention is not concerned with the particular construction of the knitting ma-` chine itself or of the movable needle directing cams but relates wholly to thedevices forv automatically moving such cams in a circular knitting machine. f

Our improvements are designed to accomplish greater eciency in operation with simplicity in the constructionof the mechanism employed. l

We shall nowV refer to the accompanying drawings for the purpose of particularly explaining the construction and mode of operation of our improved devices.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a circular knitting machine having our improvements applied to it with the base frame in section. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of the machine illustrating a modification of our invention. sectional'plan view of the machine on the Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the cam dial. Fig. 5 is a front elevation ot a portion of ythe cam controlling mechanism on anV enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is an enlarged end elevation of the same. Fig.

7 is a vertical sectional View of the same ,on

the line y-y of Fig. 3 also on an enlarged Fig. 3 is a' scale. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of thetoothed Wheels for'controlling the cam actuating levers. Fig. 9 is a detail View of the pattern ratchet fo'r driving the pattern chain; and Fig.,l0 is a horizontal sectional view on areduced scale of the lower portion ofwthc machine taken on the line z--z ot Fig. l.

As has been previously stated our i'nvention relates particularly to the devices for operating the movable cams of the cam dial to control the horizontal needles and the particular construction of the knitting machine in other respects is immaterial to our invention.

In the drawings for the purposes ot' illustration, we have shown a knitting machine of Well known construction having our improvements appliedto it.

A is the ordinary stationary bed plate.

B is the cross head'from which the stationary cam dial C andthe'rotary needle dial D are .suspended E is .the rotary needle cylinder Which carries the vertical needles.

The horizontal needledial D and vertical needle cylinder E constitute the rotary knitting head ofthe machine.

F is the stationary cam ring which contains the usual cams for operating the vertical needles.

G is the annular bevel gearwhich carries l the needle cylinder and is operated by a bevel pinion G on the counter shaft g in the usual manner.

G2 is an annular base plate carried by the depending frames Grs of the rotary gear plate G and guided in the annular base frame H.

O is the annular guide frame for the iinished fabric carried by the plate G2.

The dial C is provided with appropriatestationary and movable cams to act upon the heels ot' the horizontal needles and move the needles in or out as the character ofthe knit-' ting may require. Such cams are particularly shown in the plan View of the inverted Adial Fig. et. In that figure, a are the stationary cam grooves or guides for the needles and b are the movable directing vcams which are shown as grooved cams pivoted as at b adjacent :to the grooves a and movable in and out.

These cams b receive the needles as they pass from the grooves a and carry them in or out. In 'the drawings four of such movable cams b are shown, two of which are operatively connected with the mechanism for moving them,

vbut it is immaterial to our invention whether one or more of such movable cams are used, as it is applicable equally to two or more feeds.

As shown in the drawings the invention is applied to a four-feed machine, the alternate cams b being operated. If desired two adjacent cams may be operated, instead of two opposite or alternate ones, by connecting the operating mechanism with two adjacent cams instead of with the alternate cams. Each cam which is to-be operated is connected by `a pin b2 through a slot b3 with the operating rod B' or B2.

c are the thread guides upon the dial C located adjacent to the cams b so as to feed the thread at the points where the horizontal needlesare operated by the cams.

So far as we have described the machine it is of Well known construction.

We shall now particularly describe our improvements, which for purposes of illustration we have shown applied to the machine described.

I is a shaft journaled in suitable bearingsi in a bracket l carried by the main frame of the machine.

.T is a pattern chain wheel looselyjournaled on the shaft I.

J is the pattern chain carried by the pattern chain wheel J.

J2 is a vratchet wheel secu red to the sprocket wheel J.

K is a 'second ratchet wheel fast uponthe shaft I and adjacent to the sprocket wheel J.

L and L are toothed wheels or disks fast upon the shaft J so as to rotate with it.

M, M are bell cranks fulcrumed as at m on the bracket 1. One endof each bell crank bears upon one of the toothed wheels L, L' so as to be rocked by the teeth thereof, and the other end isv connected (preferably by a pin and slot connection) with one of the cam operating rods B', B2. Each toothed whee L or L acting upon its appropriate bell cran M or M operates the corresponding rod B or B2 and moves the cam b to which that rod is connected.

Viithv the construction shown the teeth. of the wheels L7 L are so disposed relatively to one another, that the twov bell cranks are simultaneously operated in opposite direct-ions,

a tooth of one wheel acting upon the free end of the bell crank to move it out, while the free end of the other bell crank sinks into a recess between a pair of teeth on the other wheel and is moved in. This opposite operation of the twobell cranks produces a corresponding opposite simultaneous shifting of the rods B', B2 and causes them to operate the two cams b, b similarlywth reference to the dial and. needles .by reason of their location at opposite sides of the dial, as is shown in Fig. 4. The

yneedles controlled by the two cams b, b are thus acting at any time in the same manner.

To maintain the free ends of the bell cranks M, M in close contact with the toothed peactuated, they may be provided with springs acting to press them'in contact with the wheels. In Fig..7 we have shown our preferred construction for applying this spring pressure to the bell cranks. Each bell crank is provided with a projecting arm M2 which is acted upon by a spring M3 contained in a recess 12in the bracket or frame 'I'. These springs `acting upon the arms M2 of the bell cranks hold their free ends in contact with the toothed peripheries of the wheels L, L'. To permit the adjustment of the springs M3 to regulate their tension their lower endslmay be supported upon movable blocks m which may be adjusted by screws m.

While it is not material to ourinvention constructed we prefer to employ the construction shown in which the toothed periphhigh and low links Z', Z2. These linksfare also pairs, the single links Z fitting betweenlugs` which thus serve to hold the chainsin-place. The pattern chain J may be vsimilarly constructed of links arranged alternately single and in pairs, with the single links lying between the lugs Z3 on the periphery' ot" the wheel J. The links of the pattern rchainare pointsas it is desired to 4operate the cams'b,

notch .iniV the chain' for the purpose hereinafter-explained.v The free ends of the bell cranks M-may be provided withantifriction rollers or idlers M4 which run in-contact with the peripheries of the `wheels L, L'.

We shall now describe the mechanism for operating the shaft'I and toothed wheels' L L for the purpose off moving the cams 19,19'.

the machine andhaving their upper ends eXT- tending up into or near the bracket I'. The lower ends of these shaftsare provided with thatthe shafts will rock together and in opposite directions. shafts are provided each with a projecting arm N2, arranged one slightly above the other. O, O are cams carried by the frame of the machine as by the base plate G2 androtatin'g with it. The cams O, lO are arranged at slightly different heightsone above theoth'er;

arm. Pis a'slide carried in a suitable guideP' in the bracket I' and located adjacent to the sprocket wheel J andthe ratchets J2 and K.

in what manner the toothed wheels L, L' areK cries are composed of chains L2 composed of y preferably arranged alternately single and in Z3 on the peripheries of the disks of the wh eels,

howevery all of the same height except at such b-to change the positions of the needles, at'

which points the patternchain is formed with a low link 7' which thusconstitutes` N, N are two shafts journaled vertically in` suitable bearings n carried by the frame of,

pinions N', N' which are geared together sov The lower ends of the the upper one being adapted to strike the upper arm N2 and the lower one the lower:

riph eries of the wheels L, L' so as to be always Y i IOC IIO

This slide is operatively connected with a small crankarm p-(dotted linesin Fig) carried by* one of theshafts N, so thatupou each rocking movement of the shaft N the slide P is moved backaud forth. Qisapawlcarried by the slide P and engaging the teeth of the ratchet J2, so that each reciprocation of the slide P' rotates the ratchetJ 2 the distance of one tooth. As the sprocket wheelJ is connected with the ratchet wheel J 2 it is moved with it and carries the patternchain. As the cams 0,0 rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. .l they alternately strike the arms N2 and rock the shafts N. As'these shafts are rocked together in opposite directions by reason of their connection through the pinions N', N', when the arm N2 of one shaft is-struck by its cam O and moved by it, the'arm N2 of the other arm is moved into position to be struck by the other cam O, and when it is in turn struck and moved by its cam the first arm N2 is brought back into position to be struck by the first cam. Thus the shafts N, N are constantly rocked back and forth, and through the slide P and pawl Q and ratchet J2 the pattern chain is operated. Ris a second pawlwider than the pawl Q adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet K, but projecting over the sprocket wheel J, so as to rest upon the surface .of the pattern chain J ,t'he links of whichprojectabove the teeth of the ratchet K, andthu's hold the pawl R out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. When however, a low link j or a notch in the pattern chain J comes under the pawl R, the pawl is permitted to drop into engagement with one of the teeth ofthe ratchet and as it is moved "forward bythe slide P, it rotates the ratchet Kthe distance of one tooth and correspondingly turns the shaft I and toothed wheels L, L and operates the rods B', B2 and the cams b, b in the manner described. As the pattern chain J continues to move and the notch j passes from under the pawl R, the pawl is again lifted and held out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet K until the next notch j reaches it. The cams b, b thus remain in their last adj usted positions until they are again moved in the manuel' just described.

We prefer to construct the ratchet J2 which drives the -pattern chain J with twice the number of teeth ofthe ratchet K which controis the cam operating devices, as by this means we areenabled to employ a shorter pattern chain.

Fromk the foregoing -description the operation of1the machine will be readily understood. The yarn is fed by the guides c to the needles in the usual manner. are carried by the rotary needle dial and cyl-v inder they are operated by the. respective cams to take vthe thread and form the fabric in the well known manner. of the fabric produced is governed by the pattern chain whichv is carried upon the sprocket wheel J operated in the manner described. -The operationof the needles ,con-A As the needles The character tinues in a'uniform mannerA as in plain k'nit- Vshaft I with its wheels L, L' and in the man'- ner described moves the cams and thus draws the needles in or lout as the casev maybe and correspondingly changes the character of the fabric produced. 'When' the'cams have been so changedV the needles continue to operate in the same manner until the next notch j in the pattern chain passes under the pawl R, when they are moved back and correspondingly change the extent of movement of .the

needles and the character of the fabric produced.

We have shown one form of mechanism for operating the slide P in which two shafts N, N geared together were employed. In Fig. 2 we have shown a modified construction in which a single shaft isused. This shaft S is journaled vertically* in a bearing s in 'the lower part of the Ymachine and as in the for-- mer case with one of the shaftsN will be operatively connected with the slide P by/a crank 1o. The lower end'of the shaft Sis provided with an arm S which runs in con tact with a continuous cam S2 on the lower part of the machine preferably on the tubular frame O. The arm S' may be kept inf con# tact with the cam S2 by a spring as shownl 4 -With this construction the single shaft will be rocked back and forth through theJ cam S2 and the arm S and will reciprocate the slide P substantially as in the construction employing the two shafts N, N. In each case it'will be observed that the operation of the pattern mechanism and cam connections is controlled V'wholly from the lower portion of the machine below the base plate.

It is apparent that it is wholly immaterial to our invention whether-two movable cams be employed in the cam dial with a double feed as is particularly shown in thedrawings, or whether a single needle directing cam be used with aksingle feed. In the latter case one of the rods B' B2, bell cranks M, M' and toothed wheels L, L' would be-omitted.

It is also to be understood that our inven- IOO IIO

tion is in no way limited to any particular construction or arrangement of the needle' directing cams operated by one of the devices of our invention, or to any of the minor details of construction which have been shownv4 for the purpose of more clearly explaining `our invention and may be varied without in any Way departing from it.\

-Y Having now described our invention, what we clailn as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a knitting machine, the combination with the rotary knitting headembracing the vertical needle cylinder and horizontal needle dial, of a'cam'dial, a movable cam for the horizontal needles of the kneedle dial, carried byfthe camdial, mechanism for moving the cam to lcontrol the movements ofthe horizontal needles, the base plate carried by the knitting head-and movingwith it,apattern chain a rotary pattern chain wheel,- driving'devices low the :base` plate offthe machine, actuatingy cams'` carried by the depending frame below saidbase-` plate, the cam dial and'l movable cam for 'the horizontal needles, and a-trainof devices comprising actuating and controlling elementsbetween said movable cam and-actuatingi'cams and havingiprovisions adapted to be actedupon by the latter.

3. ln a knitting machine, the combination with .thfe rotary knittinghead embracing they verticalfneedle; cylinder andl the horizontal needle'idial, of aacam'dial, aneedle directing 1 cam forithe needles ofv the horizontal needle dial carried .by` the vcam dial, mechanism for moving the needle directing cam to control the operationofthe needles, azrotary pattern chainwheel, a pattern chainl carried thereby, a ratchet conneetedwith the pattern chain wheel, a reciprocatingslide, driving connec-l tions ,between 4the reciprocating slide and the rotary'frame ofthe knitting head, a pawl to operate. the lratchetcarried by the reciprocating slide,aisecond ratchet'for operating the mechanism for moving the needle directing cam, anda -second pawl foroperatingthe second ratchet carriedlbythe reciprocating slide and resting on the pattern ehainvso asto be controlled directlyv by it.

4. In aknitting machine, the combination with Ythe rotary knitting head embracing th'e-v vertical needle cylinder and the horizontal needle dial, lof a cam dial, a needle directing cam vfor theneedles of the horizontal needle dial carried by the cam dial, mechanism for movingthe needle directing cam to control the operation of the needles, avrotary pattern chain wheel,1a pattern chain carried thereby, a ratchet connected with the pattern chain wheel, .a yreciprocating slide, driving connectionsbetween the reciprocating slide and the rotary frame ef the knitting head, a .pawl to operatethe ratchet carried by the reciprocating slide, atsecond ratchet for operating the mechanism for moving the needle directing cam .havinga smaller number of teeth than the first ratchet, and a second pawl for operating'the second ratchet carried by the recip-V rocating slide and resting on the pattern chain so asto be ycontrolled directly by it.

5. Ina knitting machine, the combination with the rotary knitting head embracing the 'vertical needlecylinderand the horizontal' needle dial,- of al cam dial, aneedle directing cam for the needles-of thehorizontaineedle dial carried by the cam dial, 4mechanism vfor moving the needle directing cam to control the operation of the needles, a rotary'pat# tern chain wheel, a pattern chain carried thereby, a ratchet connected'withthe pattern wheel, arreciprocating slide, a pawl carried by. the reciprocating-*slide for driving the ratchet, the vertical rock shafts N, N geared together so as to rock simultaneously and oppositely, operative connections between one rock shaftand thelreciprocatin'g slide, arms N2 N2 carried by the shafts N, N, `cams O, O adapted to alternatelystrike the arms N2, N2, carried by the rotary frameof the knit; ting head, and-connections for operating the mechanismv for moving the needle directing cam'controlled by thepattern chain.

6. In a'knitting'machine,` the combinationof a rotary knittinghead embracingthe vertical needle cylinder'andfthe horizontal needle dial, of a cam dial, one'ormore movable needle directing cams for operating the horizontal needles of theneedle dial carried by the cam dial, one or more bell cranks Mhaving one arm operatively connected with the needle directing cam,- a rotary shaft I, one orI more toothed wheels carried by the shaft I andV arranged :to act upon the free arms 0f the bell cranks, aI pattern chain wheel loose on the shaft I, a pattern chain carriedthereby, aA ratchet J2 fast'on the pattern chain wheel, av lratchet Kv fast on the shaft I, a reciprocating slide P, apawl Q carried by the slideP'and operating the ratchet J2 and pattern chain wheel, a pawl R" also carried by the slide P and adapted to op'eratethc ratchet K'and shaft I resting on the patternchain and controlled directly by it, a rock shaft operativelyl connected with the slide P, and cam devices carried by the rotary frame of the knitting head to rock said rock shaft;

7. In a knitting machine, the combination of arotary knitting head embracing vthe nee. dle cylinderand dial, the cam dial, andmovable cam for operating the needles, a shaft'I,

-a ratchet J2 loose on the shaft I, a pattern chain wheel carried with the ratchet, a pattern chain carried by the pattern chain wheel, a

ratchet K fast'onI the shaft I, mechanism for operating the movable needle directing cam part of which is carried by the shaft I, a slide P, a pawl Q carried by the slide P and engaging the ratchet J 2, a second pawl R controlled by the pattern chain also carried by the-slide P and engaging the ratchet K, thel vertical rock shafts N, N geared together and havingv the. armsl N2'N2 adapted to be operatedby the rotary knitting head, and an operative connection between the shafts N, N `and the slide P.

8. In a knitting machine, the combination of the knitting head embracing the needle cylinder and dial, the canrdial, the movable needle directing cam carried by the cam dial,

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the stationary frame I', the rocking lever M Y In testimony of which invention We have .A pivoted to the frame I connected ab one end hereunto set our hands. tothe movable needle directing cam and hav- ABNER MCMICHAEL. ing thearm M2, the spring M3 located Within 5 a recess in the frameI and acting on the a'rm Witnesses:

M2, and pattern controlled mechanism to op- HENRY I. FOX, erate the levervM. WILLIAM ST. JOHNs FRANK B. WILDMAN. 

